Theresa May gathered her senior ministers in Downing Street on Wednesday morning as the UK made a "pivotal moment" in its journey to a future outside the European Union.

The Prime Minister signed the letter that starts the formal exit process and the historic document has been hand-delivered by a senior diplomat to EU chiefs in Brussels.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said the letter sets the "right tone" and sends the "right signals" to European leaders about how the UK wants to conduct the negotiations that will decide the country's future.

at around 12.20pm the premier informde MPs that Brexit was triggered and, in Brussels, British ambassador to the EU Sir Tim Barrow delivered the document to European Council president Donald Tusk.

How Brexit will affect your life

Britain's permanent representative to the European Union Tim Barrow, left, hand delivers British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit letter in notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to EU Council President Donald Tusk, in Brussels, Belgium, Wednesday, March 29, 2017 (Image: REUTERS POOL)

Article 50 was triggered on Wednesday and the UK now has two years to formally withdraw from the European Union .

How this is set to affect day to day life remains to be seen but there are already indications how it could change the world we live in.

When is the deadline to leave?

The two-year deadline for reaching a deal expires “when Big Ben bongs midnight” on the night of March 29-30 2019, Downing Street has said.

That means there are still two years ahead until Brexit actually happens.

14:49KEY EVENT

'We already miss you' - Donald Tusk

Donald Tusk has said he will not pretend that this is a happy day as he receives notice from the UK to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

In a melancholy way he tells the UK, “We already miss you” and adds that the EU has become stronger despite the Brexit vote.

14:41Kathryn Riddell

Hand-delivered letter at lunchtime

The six-page letter, signed in ink by the Prime Minister, was hand-delivered to Mr Tusk in his Brussels office by UK permanent representative Sir Tim Barrow at around 12.20pm just minutes before Mrs May made a statement to MPs on her plans.

The European Council president was the first officially to announce its receipt, posting a photograph on Twitter, while Mrs May completed her weekly session of Prime Minister’s Questions in Westminster.

14:28Kathryn Riddell

The moment PM's letter is handed over

No footage is available of Theresa May’s letter being handed over to the EU - but we do have this gif from the Press Association.

Donald Tusk has now received the request to trigger Article 50 and Britain’s journey to Brexit has begun.

14:15Katie Collings

PM accused of "trading our security like a bargaining chip"

Theresa May has been forced onto the back foot amid a backlash over a key phrase in her letter.

She wrote: “In security terms a failure to reach agreement would mean our cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism would be weakened.”

Labour MP Stephen Kinnock asked her in the House of Commons: “Is she really saying the security of our country will be traded like a bargaining chip in these negotiations?”

The PM replied: “We’re not going to be trading the security of our country.”

She said it was a matter of raising the issues at stake in a reasoned negotiation, adding: “It’s very simple, it’s very pragmatic.”

14:10Katie Collings

We recall the way we were in January 1973 when the UK joined the EEC

It’s been ever-present in the news for months - and Prime Minister Theresa May was today triggering Article 50.

It will mark the beginning of Britain’s gradual exit from the European Union - a process, we’re told by the experts, could take years to complete.

It’s a far cry, from Monday, January 1, 1973 when the UK became a fully-fledged member of the European Economic Community (as it was called then).

Forty-four years, two months and 29 days on, we recall the way we were in the region and across the nation back then. How much do you remember?

Gordon Brown: "The only things moving forward this week in Britain are the clocks"

Speaking at Cardiff University today, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was a “very difficult day”.

(Image: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

He said:

“We have the declaration of Brexit through the European Union.

“We have a stand-off between the Scottish Government and the UK Government over the future of Scotland and a potential referendum.

“We have the potential for direct rule now in Northern Ireland.

“We have the different discontents of different regions about what is happening with Brexit and the effect of it on them.

“I’ve been thinking that the only things that have been moving forward this week in Britain are the clocks.”

13:55Katie Collings

Pound rises slightly as Article 50 is triggered

Sterling pushed higher against the euro as Britain embarked on its historic exit from the European Union by triggering Article 50.

The pound lifted to 1.158 versus European currency, climbing from a rise of 0.2% to 0.6% by the time the Prime Minister had finished her address to Parliament.

However, the UK currency showed little movement against the US dollar in the immediate aftermath of the speech, remaining marginally lower at 1.245 US dollars.

13:47Katie Collings

Theresa May wants 'free trade' to help companies like Nissan

Prime Minister Theresa May said she wants “free and frictionless” trade with the EU.

(Image: PA)

Carmakers such as Nissan have stressed the need for continued access to the EU single market, not only so that they can sell vehicles in EU countries but also so that they can import parts from EU suppliers without delays.

Mrs May said she understood the need for “frictionless” trade, in an interview with The Chronicle.

She said:

“I want to see, if you talk to businesses of all sorts across the country, they value the ability to trade in goods and services as seamlessly and frictionlessly across borders into the European Union.

“We want a comprehensive free trade agreement with Europe that enables us to have as free and frictionless as possible trade in goods and services with the European Union remaining member states.”

Watch Theresa May's statement on triggering Brexit in full

“This is an historic moment from which there can be no turning back. Britain is leaving the European Union. We are going to make our own decisions and our own laws. We are going to take control of the things that matter most to us. And we are going to take this opportunity to build a stronger, fairer Britain – a country that our children and grandchildren are proud to call home. “

13:22Katie Collings

Watch: PMQs in full

Here is the full video from earlier:

13:18Katie Collings

'There's no reason to pretend this is a happy day': Tusk warns he'll 'do everything' to fight for the 27 EU nations

European Council president Donald Tusk has been addressed by journalists in Brussels.

He said:

“There is no reason to pretend this is a happy day, neither in Brussels nor in London.

“After all most Europeans including nearly half the British voters wish that we would stay together, not drift apart.

“Paradoxically there is also something positive in Brexit.

“Brexit has made us, the community of 27, more determined and more united than before.

“I am fully confident of this, especially after the Rome Declaration.

“We will remain determined and united also in the future, for the difficult negotiations ahead.”

During his speech Mr Tusk made a stark warning about whose side he is on now Britain is breaking away.

He said:

“Both I and the Commission have a strong mandate to protect the interests of the 27.

“In essence this is about damage control. Our role is clear - to minimise the costs for EU citizens, businesses and member states.

“We will do everything in our power and we have all the tools to achieve this.”

He said the next step will happen by April 29 and warned:

“Until the UK leaves the EU, EU law will continue to apply to and within the UK.”

13:14Katie Collings

'The task before us'

“As I have said, the Government of the United Kingdom wants to agree a deep and special partnership between the UK and the EU, taking in both economic and security cooperation. At a time when the growth of global trade is slowing and there are signs that protectionist instincts are on the rise in many parts of the world, Europe has a responsibility to stand up for free trade in the interest of all our citizens. Likewise, Europe’s security is more fragile today than at any time since the end of the Cold War. Weakening our cooperation for the prosperity and protection of our citizens would be a costly mistake. The United Kingdom’s objectives for our future partnership remain those set out in my Lancaster House speech of 17 January and the subsequent White Paper published on 2 February.

“We recognise that it will be a challenge to reach such a comprehensive agreement within the two-year period set out for withdrawal discussions in the Treaty. But we believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the EU. We start from a unique position in these discussions – close regulatory alignment, trust in one another’s institutions, and a spirit of cooperation stretching back decades. It is for these reasons, and because the future partnership between the UK and the EU is of such importance to both sides, that I am sure it can be agreed in the time period set out by the Treaty.

“The task before us is momentous but it should not be beyond us. After all, the institutions and the leaders of the European Union have succeeded in bringing together a continent blighted by war into a union of peaceful nations, and supported the transition of dictatorships to democracy. Together, I know we are capable of reaching an agreement about the UK’s rights and obligations as a departing member state, while establishing a deep and special partnership that contributes towards the prosperity, security and global power of our continent.”

13:11Katie Collings

'Proposed principles for our discussions'

“Looking ahead to the discussions which we will soon begin, I would like to suggest some principles that we might agree to help make sure that the process is as smooth and successful as possible.

We should engage with one another constructively and respectfully, in a spirit of sincere cooperation. Since I became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom I have listened carefully to you, to my fellow EU Heads of Government and the Presidents of the European Commission and Parliament. That is why the United Kingdom does not seek membership of the single market: we understand and respect your position that the four freedoms of the single market are indivisible and there can be no “cherry picking”.

“We also understand that there will be consequences for the UK of leaving the EU: we know that we will lose influence over the rules that affect the European economy. We also know that UK companies will, as they trade within the EU, have to align with rules agreed by institutions of which we are no longer a part – just as UK companies do in other overseas markets.

We should always put our citizens first. There is obvious complexity in the discussions we are about to undertake, but we should remember that at the heart of our talks are the interests of all our citizens. There are, for example, many citizens of the remaining member states living in the United Kingdom, and UK citizens living elsewhere in the European Union, and we should aim to strike an early agreement about their rights.

“We should work towards securing a comprehensive agreement. We want to agree a deep and special partnership between the UK and the EU, taking in both economic and security cooperation. We will need to discuss how we determine a fair settlement of the UK’s rights and obligations as a departing member state, in accordance with the law and in the spirit of the United Kingdom’s continuing partnership with the EU. But we believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the EU.

We should work together to minimise disruption and give as much certainty as possible. Investors, businesses and citizens in both the UK and across the remaining 27 member states – and those from third countries around the world – want to be able to plan. In order to avoid any cliff-edge as we move from our current relationship to our future partnership, people and businesses in both the UK and the EU would benefit from implementation periods to adjust in a smooth and orderly way to new arrangements. It would help both sides to minimise unnecessary disruption if we agree this principle early in the process.

“In particular, we must pay attention to the UK’s unique relationship with the Republic of Ireland and the importance of the peace process in Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is the only EU member state with a land border with the United Kingdom. We want to avoid a return to a hard border between our two countries, to be able to maintain the Common Travel Area between us, and to make sure that the UK’s withdrawal from the EU does not harm the Republic of Ireland. We also have an important responsibility to make sure that nothing is done to jeopardise the peace process in Northern Ireland, and to continue to uphold the Belfast Agreement.

“We should begin technical talks on detailed policy areas as soon as possible, but we should prioritise the biggest challenges. Agreeing a high-level approach to the issues arising from our withdrawal will of course be an early priority. But we also propose a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union. This should be of greater scope and ambition than any such agreement before it so that it covers sectors crucial to our linked economies such as financial services and network industries. This will require detailed technical talks, but as the UK is an existing EU member state, both sides have regulatory frameworks and standards that already match. We should therefore prioritise how we manage the evolution of our regulatory frameworks to maintain a fair and open trading environment, and how we resolve disputes. On the scope of the partnership between us – on both economic and security matters – my officials will put forward detailed proposals for deep, broad and dynamic cooperation.

“We should continue to work together to advance and protect our shared European values. Perhaps now more than ever, the world needs the liberal, democratic values of Europe. We want to play our part to ensure that Europe remains strong and prosperous and able to lead in the world, projecting its values and defending itself from security threats.”

13:10Katie Collings

'Negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union'

“The United Kingdom wants to agree with the European Union a deep and special partnership that takes in both economic and security cooperation. To achieve this, we believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the EU.

“If, however, we leave the European Union without an agreement the default position is that we would have to trade on World Trade Organisation terms. In security terms a failure to reach agreement would mean our cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism would be weakened. In this kind of scenario, both the United Kingdom and the European Union would of course cope with the change, but it is not the outcome that either side should seek. We must therefore work hard to avoid that outcome.

“It is for these reasons that we want to be able to agree a deep and special partnership, taking in both economic and security cooperation, but it is also because we want to play our part in making sure that Europe remains strong and prosperous and able to lead in the world, projecting its values and defending itself from security threats. And we want the United Kingdom to play its full part in realising that vision for our continent.”

13:09Katie Collings

'The process in the United Kingdom'

It continues:

“As I have announced already, the Government will bring forward legislation that will repeal the Act of Parliament – the European Communities Act 1972 – that gives effect to EU law in our country. This legislation will, wherever practical and appropriate, in effect convert the body of existing European Union law (the “acquis”) into UK law.

“This means there will be certainty for UK citizens and for anybody from the European Union who does business in the United Kingdom. The Government will consult on how we design and implement this legislation, and we will publish a White Paper tomorrow. We also intend to bring forward several other pieces of legislation that address specific issues relating to our departure from the European Union, also with a view to ensuring continuity and certainty, in particular for businesses.

“We will of course continue to fulfil our responsibilities as a member state while we remain a member of the European Union, and the legislation we propose will not come into effect until we leave.

From the start and throughout the discussions, we will negotiate as one United Kingdom, taking due account of the specific interests of every nation and region of the UK as we do so.

“When it comes to the return of powers back to the United Kingdom, we will consult fully on which powers should reside in Westminster and which should be devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. But it is the expectation of the Government that the outcome of this process will be a significant increase in the decision-making power of each devolved administration.”

13:04KEY EVENT

Full Article 50 letter released

The letter begins:

“On 23 June last year, the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. As I have said before, that decision was no rejection of the values we share as fellow Europeans. Nor was it an attempt to do harm to the European Union or any of the remaining member states.

“On the contrary, the United Kingdom wants the European Union to succeed and prosper. Instead, the referendum was a vote to restore, as we see it, our national self-determination. We are leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe – and we want to remain committed partners and allies to our friends across the continent.

“Earlier this month, the United Kingdom Parliament confirmed the result of the referendum by voting with clear and convincing majorities in both of its Houses for the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The Bill was passed by Parliament on 13 March and it received Royal Assent from Her Majesty The Queen and became an Act of Parliament on 16 March.

“Today, therefore, I am writing to give effect to the democratic decision of the people of the United Kingdom. I hereby notify the European Council in accordance with Article 50 (2) of the Treaty on European Union of the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the European Union.

“In addition, in accordance with the same Article 50(2) as applied by Article 106a of the Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, I hereby notify the European Council of the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the European Atomic Energy Community.

“References in this letter to the European Union should therefore be taken to include a reference to the European Atomic Energy Community.

“This letter sets out the approach of Her Majesty’s Government to the discussions we will have about the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union and about the deep and special partnership we hope to enjoy – as your closest friend and neighbour – with the European Union once we leave. We believe that these objectives are in the interests not only of the United Kingdom but of the European Union and the wider world too.

“It is in the best interests of both the United Kingdom and the European Union that we should use the forthcoming process to deliver these objectives in a fair and orderly manner, and with as little disruption as possible on each side. We want to make sure that Europe remains strong and prosperous and is capable of projecting its values, leading in the world, and defending itself from security threats. We want the United Kingdom, through a new deep and special partnership with a strong European Union, to play its full part in achieving these goals. We therefore believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the European Union.

“The Government wants to approach our discussions with ambition, giving citizens and businesses in the United Kingdom and the European Union – and indeed from third countries around the world – as much certainty as possible, as early as possible.

“I would like to propose some principles that may help to shape our coming discussions, but before I do so, I should update you on the process we will be undertaking at home, in the United Kingdom.”

North East MP reacts

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is responding to Theresa May’s statement in the House of Commons.

He says:

“The direction this government is threatening to take this country in is reckless and damaging.”

And he says Labour will not give the government a “free hand” - to jeers from MPs because he whipped them to vote for Article 50.

He adds, however:

“We will use every parliamentary opportunity to ensure this government is held to account at every stage”.

And he says Britain must not become a “tax dodgers’ paradise”.

12:53Katie Collings

Theresa May triumphantly tells MPs: "Come together"

Theresa May tells MPs to roars of Tory approval:

“When I sit around the negotiating table in the months ahead, I will represent every person in the whole United Kingdom – young and old, rich and poor, city, town, country and all the villages and hamlets in between.

“And yes, those EU nationals who have made this country their home.

“It is my fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country.

“For, as we face the opportunities ahead of us on this momentous journey, our shared values, interests and ambitions can - and must - bring us together.

“We all want to see a Britain that is stronger than it is today. We all want a country that is fairer so that everyone has the chance to succeed.”

She adds:

“We are one great union of people and nations with a proud history and a bright future.

“And, now that the decision has been made to leave the EU, it is time to come together. For this great national moment needs a great national effort - to shape a stronger future for Britain.”

12:50Katie Collings

PM accepts we will "lose influence" over EU rules

The PM says “we accept” that we will “lose influence” over rules governing EU markets of which we’re currently a member.

She is then jeered when she warns of “signs that protectionist instincts are on the rise in many parts of the world.”

She says “continued friendship” with the EU will ensure we are all safer and more prosperous.

The spirit of co-operation was exemplified in the response to the Westminster terror attack last week, she says.

12:46Katie Collings

Bid to protect EU citizens is “set out very clearly” in letter to Donald Tusk

The PM is repeating details of her Brexit White Paper in the House of Commons.

There should be no return to a hard border in Northern Ireland, she says.

And she reveals it is “set out very clearly” in her letter to Donald Tusk that she wants to protect the rights of 3million EU citizens already in Britain.

12:42Katie Collings

Lib Dems burst out laughing as PM says: "Now more than ever, the world needs the liberal democratic values of Europe"

The PM says:

(Image: PA)

“Perhaps now more than ever, the world needs the liberal democratic values of Europe.”

The Liberal Democrats burst out laughing as the PM is jeered across the House of Commons.

She is forced to pause for several seconds.

Then she continues deliberately, saying there are:

“Values the United Kingdom shares”.

12:39KEY EVENT

Theresa May gives historic statement: “This is an historic moment from which there can be no turning back"

Theresa May has begun her statement to MPs in the House of Commons.

“This is an historic moment from which there can be no turning back,” she says.

“Britain is leaving the European Union.”

She adds:

“In moments like these, great turning points in our national story, the choices we make define the character of our nation.”

We can look forwards with optimism of spirit or backwards, she says.

“I choose to believe in Britain and that our best days lie ahead.”

12:38Katie Collings

Sean has said:

“They say they’re sad but energised.

“A chap who walked past wearing a Leave badge colourfully reported this is ‘the happiest day of his life’.”